Day Two; Hope

I keep bumping into the word hope. It is
everywhere in scripture!

"We give thanks to God always for all of you, 
constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 
remembering before our God and Father your 
work of faith and labor of love and 
steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1Thes 1:3)

Paul gives thanks to God for them because of

• Their work of faith
• Their labor of love
• Their steadfastness of hope

I lost a dear friend a few months ago, but in the
midst of my sorrow comes the hope that I will
see Janet again. Hope based on truth.

I have a long standing grief over a one way
relationship but because I am in Christ I can
persevere in the loving-- well-- most of the
time.It is hard work. My hope is not based
on his changing but on God who is my hope.

Elisabeth Elliot died at age 98. I found a recent
photo and saw God's imprint in her face.
Elisabeth walked a life of loving, serving and
losing, but in the losing she remained steadfast
in hope. I need, we need, to be around people
who live hope in the now.

"...and hope does not disappoint, because 
the love of God has been poured out within 
our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was 
given to us." (Rom 5:5)

Reader, your hope is not based on your feelings
or your circumstances, but on God's love for
you.

Week One; Day One

What is this? Well, yesterday I was dry with nothing
to share. I breathed a prayer, "Help!" Today I opened
to Day One of the Beth Moore study in 1st and 2nd
Thessalonians. Am now so full I don't know where to
start!

Paul is writing to those "who are in God the Father and 
the Lord Jesus Christ." In Christ. This is what set them
apart from all the others who dwelt in that city.

In John 17:20 Jesus utters a heartfelt 'prayer for his
disciples and for those who would believe in Him
through their words.' Paul was one for whom Jesus
prayed and was in Thessaloniki for only three weeks.
Here is where it gets exciting. The descendants of
those believers are alive and well today. Not long ago
five hundred or so gathered together to worship in three
languages: "Christ Alone My Cornerstone" At the end
of that service 60 came forward with melted hearts to
receive Jesus, everyone of them an answer to the prayer
of Jesus two thousand years ago.

Reader, Jesus prayed for all who would come to Him.
You, dear sister, brother, are a shining result of that prayer!
You are unique; you are special; you are His.

The God of All Comfort

Don't you love that word "comfort?" It is like a warm
fuzzy blanket before the fire on a cold winter's night;
the hug of a friend in the midst of deep sorrow; the
kiss of a mom when the the milk spills; it is a brilliant
sunset after a hard day.

"God will comfort us on every side"
"In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy 
comforts delight my soul."
...Comfort ye my people, saith the Lord your God."

Reader, do your really believe that your God is the
God of all comfort? Is your Christian life comfortable
or uncomfortable? Do you know Him as the God who
comforts in all tribulations? Man scolds; God comforts.

Fear not, for you belong to the God of Salvation!
I don't know about you, reader, but I want to walk
every moment in the comfort of my loving Papa.

Pauls prayer for the Thessalonians who were under
great persecution:
"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, 
even our Father, who has loved us and has 
given us everlasting consolation and good hope 
through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish 
you in every good word and work."

What a benediction! Let it roll around in your spirit
that you might find comfort in your greatest need.

A Word of Hope

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future
and a hope. (Jer 29:11

God has plans for me. The living God, the creator of
the universe, has plans for me, today--and in the future.
Plans for welfare, not evil. Peace, wholeness, health,
fullness, satisfaction, rest, completeness, stability,
hope. Hope that is based on truth. Hope that will not
disappoint. Hope that brings comfort to my soul.
He holds my future. I am His, only His. He holds
onto me when the waves crash and I am helpless
having lost my grip.

Dear Papa, I forget. I even accuse You of doing bad
things to me. I may be sinking in the rapids of life, but
You have said that I have a future. In You I have hope.
I look at the now but you see events from an eternal
perspective. I cannot measure good from the perspective
of the now. Seal this Word of Hope into my very being.
May those who read this renew their hope.

Revive Us, O God!

I woke up with the words:
"Let nothing come between you and your God."
It rolled around in my head as I came to and
then came the song, "Lead me to the cross."

I have been wandering in the wilderness of self.
The nine days of prayer for revival has punched
a welcome hole into that hideous thing called me.
Ann Graham Lotz said to draw a circle around
ourselves for that is where revival must begin.
The call of "Mayday Mayday" has not stopped
with that ninth day. Whether we know it or not,
we are in desperate need to know the God of
power and glory. Oh, God, have mercy...

"Come, restore us. Let your face shine, that 
we may be saved." (Ps 84:3,7,19)

A Heart

Himself has come after us! The Father of
Eternity; the One who having made all
things at the beginning shall give them
their final shape at the end. At the center
of the universe is not merely a power
holding things together--but a heart...
FW Grant

Oh, reader, are you not thrilled that our
God has a heart, a soft heart, not one
made of stone!

Our 1400 Mile Trip

On May 31st we left Weiser and spent about ten
hours on the road to Coeur d'Alene which is far
north. It included a scenic route that had many
twists, turns, trees and only a few glimpses of the
lake. We did see much of western Idaho which
included changes in moisture, types of mountains
and general topography of each region. This was
Glen's first trip that far north. We found a very
nice motel just minutes from a wonderful restaurant
with a patio and lake. An added bonus was Bunny,
a horse that was munching on fresh grass just over
a short wall. His owner was at the next table and
had the other end of his halter. She rode him the two
miles from home, while her husband roller bladed
beside her. Only in Idaho! I had fresh
Pan Fried Trout, herbed potatoes and asparagus
with cheese cake for desert.
We walked the lake at sunset.

Monday we drove to Sandpoint which is about
forty miles north, and discovered Trinity Beach
and a restaurant with a patio that overlooked a
sandy beach where small children frolicked in
the shallow water. Lunch was a delight. That
evening we had dinner on the patio with some
old friends from our missionary days. Paul was
the CEO of MAI. The joy we experienced with
them that evening is a taste of what is coming
in the future when all that is negative will be
swallowed up in the presence of our King! We
lost track of time--until it started to rain. Thunder
rumbled most of the night.

Tuesday we drove across the top of the state
and headed for Montana at a leisurely pace with
a stop at the oldest still standing building in
Idaho. It was a Catholic Church with high painted
ceilings. The Forest Ranger kept ten year olds
quiet with the story of how a building can come
together without power tools or nails! Forty kids
sat still on the floor, asked good questions, and
listened to the answers. Only in Idaho!

As we drove into Montana the scenery began to
change into rolling green hills surrounded by
mountains--lots of sky. About 5PM we came into
Butte and stopped at Toad Hall Manor--you know,
Wind in the Willows--. What a delightful B&B!
Our host served up cold drinks and then suggested
a newly opened restaurant. Again we dined on
excellent food and came back feeling spoiled.
However, it was only the beginning because at
7:30AM there was a knock on the door and soon
we were enjoying hot coffee and scones. Breakfast
was served an hour later on the deck with the
temperature at 50 degrees. No one found it cold
in the brilliant sunshine. Eat your heart out,
you Easterners!

Wednesday we crossed a 7,000 ft pass which put
us back into Idaho. The higher peaks still had
snow. Butte itself is a mile high. It took me awhile
to realize just why we were so tired! We stayed in
Idaho Falls and it was early to bed!

Thursday morning we took a country road that
took us past and into the Experimental Breeder
Reactor built in the 50's and turned into a
museum in the 60's. It was the first place to
breed Plutonium. Glen was in hog heaven!
From there we headed to Craters of the Moon
by way of Pickles--a restaurant-- where I had
an Atomic Burger. Really... We arrived at the
National Parkand found ourselves in a strange
land of lava fields, mountains of ash, caves and
lava vents. It did look like the face of the moon!
The volcano last erupted about 1,000 years ago
and is evidently tied to the lava generated under
Yellowstone Park. The volcano carved out the
Snake River Valley and made it impossible for
the wagon trains to come that way. We drove
for miles before we ran out of old lava. What
an event that must have been! The west is
dotted with extinct and dormant volcanoes--
something you don't find much of in the east.
Perhaps it is for the better...

Friday we headed home leaving behind the
ice caves and Shoshone Falls for another time.
We stopped at an Air Force Base so I could
get a new ID card and so we could do a little
shopping. It brought back memories of our
time in the military.

That evening God capped off our wonderful
vacation with a spectacular sunset--just for
us.

As I sit outside drinking in the flowers and
gorgeous blue sky, I'm feeling so grateful
for our trip--and the coming home. The
hummers are into the fresh sweet nectar,
a butterfly flits among the flowers. I notice
that the garden needs weeding--again.

Well, Reader, now you know why it has
been so quiet on this end.